The 3rd Annual Yale Food Systems Symposium will be held this October 30-31 and the theme for this year’s conference is “New Alliances That Shape a Food Movement.” The keynote speaker will be Olivier De Schutter, former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and the keynote panel will include Robert Lustig, Dorceta Taylor, and Ricardo Salvador.

People in food movements around the world envision a future where the world’s food systems restore degraded ecosystems, mitigate and adapt to climate change, improve community health, and facilitate more equitable economic exchange. To realize this ambitious vision this world must encourage and support novel, collaborative, and holistic problem-solving approaches. This symposium want to bring a diverse group of people and approaches together at this Food Systems Symposium such as those in the public health community who seek to increase access to fresh vegetables in urban centers; land conservationists who wish to preserve farmland; legal scholars who identify avenues of policy change; and immigration reformers who advocate for farm workers.

This year’s conference seeks to foster new alliances that will encourage crosscutting conversations, innovative thinking, and actionable strategies. Eaters across the nation struggle to find wholesome food choices that nourish their bodies without endangering important environmental and social resources. A true coalition will bring expertise across disciplines to creatively solve the otherwise intractable problems of food security and access, social justice, public health, environmental stewardship, and safety. These alliances and the common goal of an improved food system will serve as the guiding focus for the 2015 Yale Food Systems Symposium.

The SerVermont AmeriCorps*VISTA Program is a statewide national service program in its third year. VISTA Members are placed at community-based organizations and state and municipal agencies whose mission and VISTA assignments cover focus areas including Veterans, Economic Development, Healthy Futures, and Education. Each VISTA makes a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a host site and receive a modest living allowance that is linked to the poverty level in their community, as well as professional development training throughout the year.

The Position:

Middlebury College seeks a VISTA member for a one-year position from August 2015 – August 2016 to work with the Community Engagement team to weave together co-curricular poverty-related programs in a more cohesive and intentional manner, while also deepening our collaboration with participating community partners.

The Cloud Forest School (el Centro de Educación Creativa) is an independent school located on 106 acres of cloud forest land in storied Monteverde, Costa Rica. Home to some 200 Pre-School through 11th graders, their student body is made up of 95% local Costa Rican students, and 5% international students.Their goal is to graduate bilingual individuals with strong roots in environmentalism. Armed with the tools to take on today’s complex problems, their graduates will become tomorrow’s botanists, farmers, lawyers, veterinarians, biologists & environmental justice warriors!
The Cloud Forest School/Centro de Educación Creativa in Monteverde, Costa Rica offers internships/study abroad opportunities for education students looking to gain experience teaching in the classroom. They have hosted students from Vassar College, Swarthmore College, Cardinal Stritch University, National Louis University, and the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching.

Students receive college credit through New Mexico State University by attending Spanish language school for their first month here at CPI (Centro Panamericano de Idiomas).

More information about the program: The program fee is $11,500 and includes the following: homestay (3 meals a day and laundry service), 5 day cultural/visa renewal trip to Nicaragua, round-trip airport transport, program coordination and logistical and emotional support. It does not include airfare, medical expenses or any additional expenses on food/entertainment. You can visit their website for more information: http://cloudforestschool.org/?page_id=95

Stagecoach Digital is a guide and partner to get clients where they want to go. They deftly navigate the frontiers of technology and connectedness to inspire supporters, amplify reach and grow revenue.

Stagecoach Digital is looking for an intern interested in contributing their skills to a creative integrated marketing agency that’s helping some of the world’s biggest and most innovative nonprofits expand their reach, raise more revenue, and make the world a better place.

As part of a small, agile team you’ll help them design web-ready emails and social media assets. You’ll persuade users to take action with designs that inspire, engage and excite them. And you’ll collaborate with your coworkers to create innovative, conversion-focused campaigns and websites that help change the world.

The Community Sailing Center is unique. They are a non-profit organization made of dedicated sailors, paddlers and recreation enthusiasts who share a deep passion for Lake Champlain because they live near and recreate on it regularly. They believe everyone deserves to play on, learn from and ultimately take care of Vermont’s greatest natural resource.

1. It’s easier than ever

In July Peace Corps announced historic changes to its application process. The online form is doable in under an hour; you can help choose the country you’d like to volunteer in (there are still no guarantees) and what you’d like to do there; and you’ll hear within a year about that acceptance.

2. Immersion in another culture

By spending two years in a foreign country — often living with host families — PCVs become immersed in ways unheard of when travelling as a tourist. You’ll experience day-to-day living first hand, from the highs to the lows.

3. You’ll learn a new language (or become fluent in the one you’ve been studying)

Immersion naturally means volunteers speak that country’s language (that can mean drilling down to region-specific dialects). Yes, it’s a challenge, but once selected, PCVs undergo a two- to three-month training period during which they receive intensive language instruction from native speakers as well as technical details about their volunteering duties.

The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as a permanent source of support for the state. They are a family of hundreds of funds and foundations created by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. They provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to making your giving easy and inspiring. Together, our funds and programs provide more than $12 million a year in grants in Vermont and beyond.

Community foundations in the United States are public charities serving people who share a common interest—improving the quality of life in their area. Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help their region meet the challenges of changing times. Community foundations invest and administer these funds.

Several Middlebury alumni are currently part of the Vermont Community Foundation team. Apply now for a job as a Community Philanthropist Associate! This is a 2 year PAID position! More information on how to apply on MOJO!

About the position:

The fellow works with the Foundation’s communications, grantmaking, and asset development teams to build the public profile of philanthropy in Vermont.

Included in this work is helping our giving partners, including donors and grantee organizations, understand community needs and the role of philanthropy in addressing those needs. Issues supported by our grantmaking include: food and farms, affordable housing, healthcare, the arts, education, homelessness and hunger, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Established in 2010, Plenitud’s teaching, demonstration, and research center is located in Las Marias, Puerto Rico and offers courses, internships, and demonstrations in sustainable and permaculture practices.

Plenitud has stewardship of a 15 acre parcel of land located in the Western, mountainous region of Puerto Rico, and founded a Teaching Center dedicated to the research and demonstration of organic agriculture and sustainable practices. The layout, methodology, and development of the farm have been primarily guided by “Permaculture” design principles, emphasizing soil conservation, responsible water management, renewable energy, and natural building.

Each year, hundreds of visitors from private and educational sectors from around the world participate in courses, internships, and research collaborations in a collective effort to gather and share the skills and values for a more sustainable and healthy future.

This year- Plenitud PR is offering a two week internship for individuals to learn the practical application of sustainable living skills!!

Inspiring Capital is bridging the gap between business talent and high-potential purpose-driven ventures. They recruit, train, and place professionals, including MBA students, women re-entering the workforce, and career switchers, and work closely with social ventures to understand how private sector backgrounds and experience can enhance a venture’s sustainability and growth.

The application to their Undergraduate Summer Institute deadline is fast approaching: on Sunday, April 5th.
Apply now to learn from a cohort of tops students and MBA candidates interested in for-purpose careers in nonprofit, social enterprise and impact investing.

StartingBloc is built on the belief that a small, committed group of people can change the world.

They bring together entrepreneurs, activists, educators, and innovators working to create change. They connect them to their tribe and give them access to the resources, co-conspirators, projects and support they need to create the impact they want.

They do this through a transformative 5-day experience where Fellows learn from proven change-makers, are pushed to take bigger risks, and find new life-long allies. As a result of StartingBloc, hundreds of Fellows have found meaningful work, launched new companies, and joined forces to tackle our world’s challenges.

StartingBloc is looking for some Middlebury student participants and have extended their deadline to March 19th, 2015!!Applications for scholarships are also still open! Check out thoughts and opinions on StartingBloc NOLA following this link: http://startingbloc.org/nola15/

Just to give you a sampling of the types of articles on DevEx: Follow the link after the informational blurb below!

“Speaking a second, third or even more languages is a common skill in the international development sector. Living in different countries provides ample opportunity for learning a new language, and those interested in this line of work tend to also be the kind of people attracted to foreign language study.

English fluency has become a requirement for most international development positions, as it has solidified itself as the dominant international language. But what if you don’t speak a second or third language? Is it necessary to learn one if you want to pursue a career in global development? While the benefits of being multilingual in an international career may seem obvious, the decision to tackle a new language isn’t as clear.”

One Heart Source (OHS) is a non-profit organization designed to empower young people through education. They believe that your students, both graduate and undergraduate, will greatly benefit from the experience of working, living, and teaching abroad.

The final application deadline is approaching quickly for the 2015 Volunteer Programs. The Final Application Deadline is March 2oth. One Heart Source offers a variety of 2, 4, and 8-week programs in South Africa and Jamaica!

* Teach primary school students through a mentorship program focused on building strong Math and English foundations, while empowering students
* Lead after-school programs in non-traditional subjects like dance, debate, art, and sports
* Integrate yourself into and work closely with members of the local community to create positive social uplift* Exchange ideas and culture with people from around the world
* Work with a small, dynamic team of international university and graduate students
* Develop empathy, confidence, and leadership skills while pursuing social justice

They will be hosting live online information sessions on March 8, 11, 15, and 18!
Join by Registering Here!

Challenge Detroit is a proven model for revitalization by attracting and retaining top talent, and offering the opportunity to contribute to a great city by providing the opportunity for tomorrow’s leaders to live in an urban setting, work at a leading area company, experience the cultural aspects of the city, and partner with nonprofits to make an impact through an innovative intellectual giving model.

The yearlong Fellowship program provides an opportunity for approximately 30 individuals of various intellects and backgrounds to come together in an effort to shape the future of Detroit. Through a wide-­‐spread social movement, the narratives and experiences of these individuals is amplifying Detroit’s potential and influencing public perception about the present and future of the city.

About the Dean: Associate Professor Kent Glenzer was appointed dean of the Graduate School of International Policy and Management in January 2015. Glenzer serves as the academic leader overseeing the school’s degree programs in Business Administration (MBA), International Education Management, International Environmental Policy, International Policy and Development, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies, and Public Administration (MPA), as well as a variety of related non-degree programs.

Expertise: I have extensive work and research experience in sub-Saharan Africa, having lived there for 13 years and focused on it as both an external and internal consultant to NGOs and public sector agencies for 10 more years. I have a strong background, both practically and academically, in civil society, social movements, and policy advocacy. I specialize in organizations, organizational development, organizational behavior and culture, institutional and organizational fields, and organizational evolution and learning processes. All my work and thinking centralizes on the power dynamics, inequalities, and identity politics that surround and constitute development processes, programs, policies, and strategies.

EVENT DETAILS:

Lunch with MIIS Dean of the Graduate School of International Policy and Management

When: Wednesday, February 25

Where: 12:15 pm in Adirondack House at CCI

Bring your questions, lunch IS provided, and have a conversation about MBA, MPA and several other programs in sunny California!!

For the past 30 years Rural Vermont has worked to create economic justice for Vermont farmers through education, grassroots organizing and advocacy for the past 30 years. Join their team and help fulfill their vision for a community- based food system which sustains our farmers, our communities, and our lands.

The two summer internship opportunities, as a Grassroots Organizing intern and an Outreach Intern have deadlines on April 1st (but it is rolling admissions so apply ASAP)!!

To find out more information about the position(s) and how to apply please check out this poster: Rural vermont poster

Engage Chicago is an eight-week summer field study program that gives bright undergraduates from across the nation a chance to live, work, serve and learn together in this remarkable city, amidst a rich history and culture of civic engagement. The innovative program model deliberately combines academic coursework, placements at top community organizations/civic institutions, and powerful community experiences — all under the guidance of expert Northwestern faculty, staff and community mentors.

Through hands-on experience, thoughtful reflection, and a summer living with a vibrant community of peers, Engage Chicago is designed to be a powerful opportunity for students to learn about a great city, about social change, and about themselves.